Chapter 27

Elphaba was glad to get back to the Vinkus that very same day. Nessarose wouldn't even look her in the eye as she signed the paper stating she rejected everything their father had 'left' to her. It had hurt Elphaba, but she couldn't do anything other than let Nessarose know she had her number if anything came up.

With all of that behind her, Elphaba focused on her pregnancy. And so did Fiyero, though that wasn't always a good thing. Dear Oz, if Elphaba didn't know otherwise, she would have guessed this was Fiyero's first kid. He acted as if he had never gone through a pregnant wife before. He limited things she could do around the house and while at first it was sweet, now it was getting on her nerves.

"For the love of Oz, Fiyero, I'm pregnant, not an invalid," she threw her arms up in the air. He didn't want her to stand up from the couch to get some food saying he would get it for her. But sweet Oz, she hasn't left the couch in hours and wanted to stand up. At eight months, and her belly being really heavy to carry around, Elphaba's boss had let her start her maternity leave early. But she could still walk. "These," she pointed to her belly, "are babies. It's not one huge tumor."

Zianna's third birthday passed and neither Elphaba nor Fiyero could believe how tall she was getting. Her blonde hair was more refined and she was talking in bigger sentences. She was really starting to grow.

And now the two other babies could be here really at any moment.

A couple days before Lurlinemass, Elphaba found herself on the kitchen table, laughing into Fiyero's kiss.

They had developed somewhat of a game together. Elphaba wasn't much of a drinker, but she had the occasional wine or beer once in a while. For the past couple of weeks, a weird pregnancy craving she'd been having was tequila; this craving, she couldn't satisfy.

So, Fiyero had come up with a solution. He would slice up a couple of limes and sprinkle them with just a pinch of salt. She would suck on the slice as if she were about to take a shot afterwards, but instead, Fiyero's lips would find hers and her tongue would transfer the sour liquid into his mouth. Then it would be his turn. Sucking on his mouth was her favorite part of this little game.

Even without consuming a single drop of alcohol, it made her drunk, drunk with desire for her husband. That was nothing out of the ordinary, but her pregnancy hormones definitely made her lust escalate. They normally ended up having sex after a couple of rounds, but she certainly wasn't complaining, and Fiyero definitely wasn't either.

Elphaba felt a slight pain in her lower abdomen and she gasped against Fiyero's mouth.

"Are you ok?" He rubbed her shoulder.

"I think…" it felt as if she had peed herself, "I think my water broke."

His eyes widened and he took a deep breath. "Alright, let's get you to the hospital then."

Elphaba wanted to laugh; he was calmer now that she was about to give birth than he had been in the past couple of weeks. But Oz, was she grateful for that. She had a feeling she would freak out later, no need to have both of them on edge.

Fiyero helped her stand up. "Zia!" He called out, and the little girl came running from her room.

"Yeah, Daddy?"

"Mama's having the babies, we gotta get in the car ok?"

"Really?! Ok!" Zia ran to Elphaba and pulled on her hand. "Hurry, Mama!"

The green girl laughed and rubbed her belly. "I'm trying."

Fiyero grabbed a bag they had packed with everything they would need at the hospital like clothes and hygiene products. He grabbed both their phones as well and placed a hand on Elphaba's back. She looked back at him.

"Let's go have our babies."

She teared up slightly, but smiled. "Let's."

"Which one this one?" Zianna asked as she settled herself on the hospital bed next to Elphaba, who was holding both babies, one in each arm.

"This is your sister," Fiyero softly placed his hand on the baby with a pink hat, then switched to the baby with a blue hat "and this is your brother."

"Aw," she peeked over Elphaba's arm.

Elphaba couldn't keep her eyes off of the twins. Wow, she'd really given birth to two babies. They were beautiful. She wouldn't say this out loud because she knew it would upset Fiyero, but she was so thankful they weren't born with her green skin. She wouldn't have loved them any less if they had been, but not having green skin would certainly make their lives easier.

Fiyero broke her out of her daze by kissing her forehead, then her lips. "Thank you," his eyes shifted to the babies.

She chuckled. "Thank you, love. Zia?" She turned to the little girl beside her. "I love you," she would make sure her daughter knew that. She was no different than the twins, all three of them were her babies.

"I love you," Zia squeezed Elphaba's arm, careful not to disturb her brother.

Elphaba encouraged Fiyero to carry one of the babies and he took the baby girl into his arms since she was closer to him. "We still need names for them."

"You're right," he rocked his daughter softly. "Do you have any ideas?"

"No, honestly," Elphaba laughed.

"Well, we don't have to decide right now, we can take a day or so until we officially name them," he sat on the side of the bed and kissed the baby's forehead. Great Oz, he didn't have words to describe how happy he was.

Elphaba nodded and adjusted the blanket her son was wrapped in. The baby girl started to fuss in Fiyero's arms. Looks like it was feeding time.

"Trade you," she said.

"Good idea," he chuckled. He carefully placed his daughter back in Elphaba's arms and lifted his son into his.

"Wait, how do I do this again?"

"Just pull your gown down a little bit," Fiyero slipped the hospital gown off of Elphaba's shoulder slightly. "Pull her up to chest, let her latch on. Trust me, she'll know what to do."

She pulled the baby up to her breast and sure enough, the little one opened her mouth as soon as she felt the nipple on her cheek and took it in her mouth.

"Ooh," Elphaba gasped as the baby started to suck. "Oz, that feels weird," she laughed and Fiyero smiled.

"Is she eating?" Zianna asked.

"Yep," Elphaba answered, smiling when Zianna let her baby sister grab her finger. "She's eating."

"I think we made an interesting mix."

"Oh Oz, Yero," Elphaba laughed. She was rocking Nailor to sleep while Fiyero fed Mackaeyla.

Nailor had inherited Elphaba's dark hair but had Fiyero's blue eyes while Mackaeyla was blonde with dark brown eyes. Elphaba had to admit that she agreed with Fiyero, and despite having different eyes, hair, and gender, the twins had practically the same face. She wondered how they would gradually change as they got older.

"Go back to sleep," Fiyero kissed Elphaba's cheek, "I got them."

His wife moaned softly then snuggled further into her pillow, falling asleep once again after the babies' cries had woken her up.

Fiyero walked over to the nursery. Nailor was crying while Mackaeyla was still asleep and he was thankful for that, he wouldn't be able to rock both of them. He picked Nailor up from his crib, and gently soothed him.

"Sh, I got you, Nay," he whispered and kissed his son's forehead.

The baby's cries turned into whimpers, then he slowly fell back to sleep. After giving him another kiss on his head, Fiyero carefully placed Nailor back into his crib. He went to check on Mackaeyla, who was starting to fuss. He tenderly stroked her cheek, letting her know everything was alright, and she quickly settled down. Fiyero took a quick glance at both cribs before leaving the room. Oz, he loved those little babies so much.

He stopped by Zianna's room to make sure sleeping soundly. He pulled her blanket down a bit, she was sweating slightly, and kissed her forehead.

"I love you, Zia," he stroked her hair. He'll have a talk with her later to see if she wants to keep growing it out or cut it short.

He walked back to his bedroom and settled himself under the blankets, pulling Elphaba into his arms.

"Are they all ok?" She asked sleepily, placing her arms over his.

"Mhm, sleeping soundly," he buried his face in her neck, giving her a small kiss there before lying down on the pillow again, "I love you," he whispered, even though she had fallen asleep.

"They're so beautiful! Not surprising seeing who they're parents are," Terri gushed.

Even though Elphaba would still be home for a couple more weeks, she had invited Terri to meet the babies if she wanted to. The teen immediately jumped at the opportunity, she'd been looking forward to meeting the two new Tiggulars. They were about two months old.

"Thank you, Terri," Elphaba smiled. She was breastfeeding Mackaeyla, so far the hungriest of both babies, while Naior slept in his little bassinet with Zianna watching over him. "You know, Fiyero's going back to work next week, I still have a couple more left. You could come over and help me with the babies, I think it would be good for them to get used to you. I'll pay you of course."

"Elphaba, you don't have to do that, and I won't let you. Like you said I'd be helping you, it's not work. And of course I'd love to come over!" Terri clapped excitedly.

"Alright," the green girl pulled her sweater back up to cover her chest then extended a towel to Terri, "would you like to burp her?"

Terri nodded eagerly. Elphaba carefully passed Mackaeyla to her, who didn't seem at all bothered at being carried by a new person, and Terri carefully set the baby's head on her shoulder, patting her back gently.

"Mama," Zianna walked over to the couch, jumping at the chance to get into her mother's arms now that they were free. She extended her arms out.

"Come here you," Elphaba picked Zianna up and cradled her. It seemed like someone was in need of a nap.

"Is it harder than you thought? Caring for the babies I mean," Terri asked. "They were your first pregnancy, right?"

"Right. A little bit," Elphaba admitted. "But I started to help take care of Zianna when she was eight months old, so that definitely helped prepare me for them and in a way, it feels like the same thing, only the twins are smaller and younger so the attention and care is higher. And anything I'm not sure about, Fiyero almost always knows what to do," Oz, she was so grateful for her husband.

"Makes sense," Terri nodded, cleaning up Mackaeyla's spit up and rocking her in her arms.

"Are you sure you can handle the three of them by yourself?"

"Oh definitely. I used to take care of my five cousins at the same time, all under the age of two, I was 13."

"Wow," Elphaba chuckled. "Three at 17 shouldn't be a problem then."

"Exactly."

Nailor started to wake up.

"I got him," Terri said. "This one's hers, right?" She motioned to the empty bassinet. Elphaba nodded. Terri laid the baby girl down, making sure she was comfortable, before going over to Nailor and picking him up. "Aw, you're ok, honey," she soothed when his cries got louder.

Elphaba looked out the window. "Fiyero's home," she saw the car pull up. He'd taken advantage of the day to go and buy more diapers.

"Hear that? Daddy's home," Terri cooed to Nailor.

"Avaric will be over in a bit, he got caught up at work. Can I hold one?!" Galinda squealed.

"Which one?" Fiyero chuckled.

"Um…the boy!"

"You're burping him then," Fiyero said, removing the towel from his shoulder.

"Deal," Galinda took the towel and set it on the crook of her neck and took Nailor from Fiyero. "Oh my gosh he's so cute! Both of them are!"

"Thanks," Elphaba said, rocking Mackaeyla to sleep.

"How's you guys' sleeping schedules?" Galinda asked, taking a seat across from Elphaba, next to Zianna, on the table.

"It's a little screwed, but we take turns on who gets up during the night."

"Unless both of them start crying," Fiyero placed his hands on Elphaba's shoulders, "then both of us are up."

"They're relatively easy babies though."

"That's for sure, I think I lost more sleep with just Zia than I am with both of them."

"Hm?" Zianna asked at the mention of her name.

"Nothing," Elphaba and Galinda laughed. Elphaba threaded Zianna's hair and the little girl went back to playing on her toy phone.

"You were also single for some of that time," Galinda reminded him.

"Mhm," Fiyero gave Elphaba a kiss then proceeded to wash the baby bottles.

"Hey! Please tell me you haven't started dinner without me," a voice came from the front door.

"We're not starting until both the twins are down for their nap, so lower your volume," Elphaba got up to go place Mackaeyla in her crib.

"Wow, I haven't seen you in a couple months and that's the 'Hello' I get?"

"Suck it up," she hugged him, and he quickly greeted Mackaeyla before Elphaba went over to the nursery.

Avaric went over to hug Fiyero. "Man, I've missed you."

"Missed you too, Av," Fiyero pulled away, "congratulations by the way."

"Yeah, congrats," Elphaba came back.

Galinda and Avaric had gotten engaged a few days ago and this was the first time all four of them were in the same room since the twins were born.

"Next order of business, when are we having one of these?" Galinda gestured to the baby in her arms.

"W-what?" Avaric stuttered and Elphaba laughed.

"Shouldn't your next order of business be the wedding?" Fiyero chuckled.

"Have you met Galinda?"

"Good point," he whispered to his wife.

"Honey, let's take it one step at a time," Avaric said, rubbing Nailor's head. "They're both cute by the way."

"Thank you," the Tiggular parents chorused together.

"Thank you," Zianna echoed, making everyone laugh.

"Oh come on, we've been together long enough to be considered married. Who said we can't get pregnant while engaged?" Galinda challenged.

"Um."

Just then, Nailor burped, a lot, getting his spit up all over Galinda's hair and soaking through the towel.

"You know what? I can wait," she said, handing the baby to Elphaba and taking the paper towels Fiyero offered her. She glared at both of them, seeing that they were trying not to laugh.

"Yes! thank you Nailor," he kissed the baby's head and Elphaba rolled her eyes, smiling.

"Don't feel bad, Aunt Galinda," Zianna stood up from her chair, and patted Galinda's shoulder. "Kaey did the same thing to Daddy yesterday."

"Really?"

"Yep," Elphaba confirmed. "He even reacted the same way, just threw me the baby," everyone laughed and Fiyero rolled his eyes, but a smile crept up his face.

"Well, I'm going to splash some water on my hair," Galinda stood.

"And I'm going to put Nay down," Elphaba stood as well.

"Won't he just cry?" Avaric asked.

"He goes down pretty easily after he's been burped, no matter if he's in someone's arms or the crib. And if either of them cry, we have the baby monitor," she gestured to the kitchen counter before going to the twins' room again.

The rest of the evening was spent eating, laughing, and toasting to Galinda and Avaric's engagement. The four adults drank sparkling wine while Zianna toasted with her zippy cup full of fruit punch.

I graduated yesterday and it's my birthday today! I'm 18 (so maybe that should explain the writing quality haha), an official adult :) I'm updating early cause I KNOW I won't have a chance to later.

Funny story if you wish to read it: when I was born, in a different country, my mom had a c-section and the father doesn't go in if that's the case. My younger sibling was born in the U.S via c-section too, and my dad was so confused as to why the doctor was telling him to get dressed and go with him. When he stepped in and saw what they were doing to my mom, he wanted to puke. He now says that he can tell people he knows my mom inside and out. Literally, haha. It always makes me laugh.

I actually don't know that much about maternity/paternity leaves. My physics teacher was only gone for two weeks when his wife had a baby. My Phys. Ed. teacher was gone for almost two months. And my Culinary Arts teacher was gone for an entire semester and she only had one baby (all of those were this year too).

Another funny story: My psychology teacher told me about this professor he was supposed to be shadowing while earning his degree. The professor and his wife had adopted a baby (cause they'd thought she couldn't get pregnant) and then they ended up pregnant with triplets and he was gone for a year and a half. My teacher got a hell of a lot of experience thanks to that though, haha.

Sorry for this long AN. Next chapter has a little more action. Tell me what you thought! :)